Anyone here go on birth control for peri?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes I just started LoEstrin (?spelling). So far it’s evened out severe mood swings and significantly decreased the clotting and heaviness in my periods. 3 months in and I have a follow up soon to check blood pressure, etc.

has it contributed to weight gain or loss? that is a big issue for me. also my boobs are huge and sore at all times now.

[Anonymous]

Yes and yes! I was getting a period every two weeks. Went back on a pill I had successfully taken before (generic ortho cyclen) and everything is great now. My gyn says I can stay on it into menopause and I plan to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I asked about it, but my gyn suggested estradiol and progesterone in the MHT form instead of birth control. It’s been good. Took a few months to get the dosing optimal, but I’m very happy now.

I’m glad, as I ended up being depressed on birth control in my twenties, but was pretty desperate for relief so was willing to try again. Haven’t had any depressive symptoms in the MHT.

What about of estradiol and progesterone did you end up on?

Systemic Estradiol: .05 divigel generic. (I’d started with that dosage in the patch, vivelle dot, but I developed a bad skin reaction to the adhesive. I also had been having super sore breasts, so when she switched me to the divigel, she lowered me to .025. My sleep went back to being awful again, so she bumped me up to the .05 gel, and that’s been working great. My breasts have no soreness on it like they did on the patch)

Progesterone: 100mg every night.

Local Estradiol vaginal cream: 1 gram twice a week. I was having issues with small tears when wiping, pain in spots during sex, and having to pee 4-5 times a night. These didn’t resolve with the systemic estradiol, so she added the local cream. It works well. I use much of the 1gram inside using the applicator, but a small amount I rub directly on my vulva (labia and urethra, and right around the entrance to vagina). All my issues have resolved.

(I’ve been having significant and new libido concerns, and found my testosterone is low, below the range for adult women, so I’ll also be adding a small amount of that to see if it helps.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes I just started LoEstrin (?spelling). So far it’s evened out severe mood swings and significantly decreased the clotting and heaviness in my periods. 3 months in and I have a follow up soon to check blood pressure, etc.

I did this med for a few months and was pleased - overall mood help, took away hot flashes, but it did raise my blood pressure so I had to stop. Very disappointed. After many months now two months in to trying HRT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes I just started LoEstrin (?spelling). So far it’s evened out severe mood swings and significantly decreased the clotting and heaviness in my periods. 3 months in and I have a follow up soon to check blood pressure, etc.

I did this med for a few months and was pleased - overall mood help, took away hot flashes, but it did raise my blood pressure so I had to stop. Very disappointed. After many months now two months in to trying HRT.

Does HRT have much less hormones than LoEstrin?

[Anonymous]

It changed my life- so glad I did it. Also on Loesterin and I don't get periods, PMS, or cramps anymore either. GLORIOUS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Causes blood clots in older women.

Stop being alarmist. If she’s in peri she’s not older. Clearly if her doc suggested it, she’ll be fine. I assume she’s a non-smoker.

Different poster here - I went on it and got life threatening blood clots in my lungs within 6 weeks at only 47.

[Anonymous]

Yeesssss. Life changing. Plus SSRI.

[Anonymous]

How old are you guys on the pill, if you don't mind me asking?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes I just started LoEstrin (?spelling). So far it’s evened out severe mood swings and significantly decreased the clotting and heaviness in my periods. 3 months in and I have a follow up soon to check blood pressure, etc.

I did this med for a few months and was pleased - overall mood help, took away hot flashes, but it did raise my blood pressure so I had to stop. Very disappointed. After many months now two months in to trying HRT.

Does HRT have much less hormones than LoEstrin?

You’ll need to research this and/or talk about it with your gyn. It’s not apples to apples. Birth control suppresses your own hormones and replaces them completely. HRT adds to the hormones you already have.

[Anonymous]

I didn't go on it for perimenopause, but was already on it (LoEstrin) for birth control. When I went off at 51, everything went downhill fast.

I'd stay on LoEstrin forever, if I could!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Causes blood clots in older women.

Stop being alarmist. If she’s in peri she’s not older. Clearly if her doc suggested it, she’ll be fine. I assume she’s a non-smoker.

Different poster here - I went on it and got life threatening blood clots in my lungs within 6 weeks at only 47.

Do you have other health issues?

I went back on the yaz version to clear up my acne and stop night sweats. It worked. Weight hasn't changed. I work out 3X a week but I do need to watch my blood pressue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not exactly the same thing, but I have a Mirena IUD- I really think the low dose progesterone is helping me with perimenopause… I’ll be 48 in a few months and love having no periods, some light spotting every couple months.

I’m 44 and considering this. Pre-kids I was on loestrin and while I loved not having periods, it really killed my sex drive and I didn’t really appreciate just how much until I went off if it when we started trying for a baby. Once we were done having kids I got the Paraguard IUD since I was wary of going back on hormonal birth control. But kind of having buyers remorse now, my periods have gotten long and my cycle is shorter so it’s really annoying now. Plus I’m sure other peri symptoms will start kicking in, it’s already harder to maintain my normal weight compared to a year ago.

[Anonymous]

50, on bc for peri, it has regulated abnormal bleeding, also take ssri and trizepitide. So bleeding, moods, sleeping and weight all great right now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not exactly the same thing, but I have a Mirena IUD- I really think the low dose progesterone is helping me with perimenopause… I’ll be 48 in a few months and love having no periods, some light spotting every couple months.

I’m 44 and considering this. Pre-kids I was on loestrin and while I loved not having periods, it really killed my sex drive and I didn’t really appreciate just how much until I went off if it when we started trying for a baby. Once we were done having kids I got the Paraguard IUD since I was wary of going back on hormonal birth control. But kind of having buyers remorse now, my periods have gotten long and my cycle is shorter so it’s really annoying now. Plus I’m sure other peri symptoms will start kicking in, it’s already harder to maintain my normal weight compared to a year ago.

I just came here to post the exact same thing-- Loestrin also killed my sex drive. I never stopped having periods, though. I am 45. My periods were slightly better on it, but to be honest. It didn't help with my most vexing perimenopause issues: insomnia and brain fog. So I decided that it wasn't worth it.